Reefmaster Digital DC-200 camera

[peterjmaerz]

Does anyone have, or have information on a site for viewing sample photos of the new Sealife Reefmaster Digital camera? Would love to see some before investing $549 on a 1.3 MP digital, though the features look nice.

Thanks, Peter

 

[Diversauras]

Write to the folks at Olympus at olympus@starfishnet.com
I think they have some on their web site and maybe can send you some others. The ones I say were awesome. I have a camera on order but it hasn't arrived yet.

 

[Spectre]

Originally posted by peterjmaerz
Does anyone have, or have information on a site for viewing sample photos of the new Sealife Reefmaster Digital camera? Would love to see some before investing $549 on a 1.3 MP digital, though the features look nice

Which features did you like about it? My LDS sells them, and the owner has one, so I've seen some of his pictures. I decided to go with the Canon A40 + the Canon Housing. It was a little cheaper and the camera was better. Some of my decision making can be found here:

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?threadid=9139

Hopefully someone else can come up with some example shots to actually answer your original question.

 

[peterjmaerz]

Regarding the features on the DC-200, I like the one-button operation, the 4-second delete option when shooting, and the "Sea with external flash"mode. I already own a film version of the Reefmaster along with the external flash unit and macro lenses, so I wouldn't need to re-accessorize!
Plus, the service experience I've had with the Pioneer Research Company which manufactures the cameras has been fantastic. I've had a few problems with my film version and, in every case, the camera was not sent back repaired, but replaced by a brand new unit. Even when the shutter lever had snapped, I got not only a new housing but a new camera from the company, no questions asked. When my external flash flooded (poor design, not inattentiveness on my part), again...no questions asked and unit replaced with updated, better-designed model.
I'm just concerned that 1.3 MP is pretty grainy by today's standards. If I'm going to make the jump to digital, I'd sure like to have quality pictures.
Thanks for your reply and input. The Cannon sounds like a nice camera.

 

[Cecil]

I don't understand why you would pay $550 for a 1.3 megapixel camera in today's market. That much money you can get a 4 megapixel camera with automatic and manual options. When I went digital I looked at which cameras had readly accesable UW cases and then compared those cameras. At the time they were Olympus, Cannon and Sony. I got the Sony DSC-P5 (since replace by the P9) and could not be happier with my choice. It is not only great underwater but pretty damn good dry. I did my son's graduation pictures last night and was very pleased with the results. It's also a tiny camera that fits in my pants pocket dry, under a BC strap wet. Anyone want to buy a Pentax 35mm.

ps. I also own a Reefmaster 35mm, it sucks about as much as any camera I've ever seen. It consistanly misses focusing, lighting and framing and needs a bogus little lens so it can focus down to 2'. Bogus, the Sony focuses to 4".

 

[Spectre]

It's good to hear about the Sonys. I saw them when I was looking for a camera and I talked to a Sony rep that was there at the time and I had asked him about U/W housings. He didn't know but referenced using a snorkeling bag with his just fine.

Sony stripped down their cameras quite a bit to get a simple camera that was really cheap [4 megapixels for the price of 2 on any other camera]. It's great to hear that it makes a good U/W option.

 

[peterjmaerz]

Cecil,
Thanks for your reply. I looked at the Sony when it first came out, but I had questions concerning lack of color-correcting lens for underwater, lack of wide-angle underwater lens, etc, in housing offered by Sony.
Can you tell me what housing you came up with, how much it cost, and how your shots come out without an external flash (which is how I assume you're using the camera)
Thanks very much!

 

[catfish]

I think you should stay away from the Reefmaster digital. There are simply better options in the same price range. Olympus, Canon, and Sony all offer affordable housings, so I would suggest looking at their offerings. My preference is the Olympus 20x0, 30x0, 40x0 line of cameras. They allow for complete manual control. They use regular AA batteries and have excellent optics. They use smartmedia. All of these are major benefits in my opinion. The Canon S30 and S40 would be my second choice. Alot of manual controls (though not quite as much as the Olympus). Excellent optics. Uses compact flash, which some may say is an advantage over smartmedia, but in my opinion the two are about equal. The real downside to these cameras are the proprietary batteries they use. The Sony cameras would be my last choice. No manual controls to speak of. Optics are okay. Proprietary batteries and proprietary memory that both suck. You can tell I'm not a fan.

Anyway, here are some samples taken with my 2040 (which I have replaced with a 4040) taken with no external flash. The pictures have been resized to make them web friendly. These were my first ever attempt at underwater photography of any kind, so that should tell you the Olympus cameras make it pretty easy.

http://home.houston.rr.com/greglambert/index1.html

 

[Dee]

It was pictures like Cecil's, taken with an Olympus C-3030 with only the internal flash, that got me to seriously considering replacing my film camera with digital....and I've never regretted it. You do not need any kind of color correcting filter, at least not on any Olympus camera I've seen used underwater.

Olympus has just announced that the C-4040 has been discontinued but the C-3040 is still in production for some reason. Seems like they're going backwards! You can get an C-4040 for around $550 and with the PT-10 case at around $275....that's a heck of a price for a great package.

I also have a Nikon CP880 that uses the proprietory batteries. I'm glad I didn't get a housing for it because the rechargeable batteries I use in the Oly last twice as long.

There are several wide angle lenses out now for the PT-10 case, all have their minute differences. I'l probably add the Sea & Sea wide angle before my next trip.

My C-4040 is more camera than I ever expected it to be. I now use a Sea & Sea YD90DX strobe but most of these pictures are with only the internal flash.

Roatan 2002 first digital pictures

 

[catfish]

Dee -

Cecil has a Sony. I don't know who had the 3030 photos that caught your eye, unless it was a different Cecil than the one in this thread.

Where did you hear the 4040 was being discontinued? This was a rumor I had not heard.